Timbers attempt to regroup ahead of Galaxy clash

Portland, OR (Sports Network) - The Portland Timbers will embark on a quest to
produce another lengthy unbeaten streak when it welcomes the Los Angeles
Galaxy to Jeld-Wen Field on Saturday.

Portland suffered just its second league loss of the season last time out,
falling to the Columbus Crew, 1-0, at Crew Stadium on Sunday.

The loss saw the club's 15-game unbeaten run come to end, but the bigger
disappointment stemmed from a spurned opportunity to advance to second place
in the Western Conference.

"I don't really think about the streak or that we lost the streak - I don't
think any of the guys were thinking about it," said Timbers striker Darlington
Nagbe. "We're just mad that we didn't get the win and the chance to move up in
the table."

A win would've seen the Timbers improve to 33 points on the season, but the
defeat leaves the club level with Los Angeles on 30 apiece.

The Galaxy enter the weekend having won their last two matches, both of which
came on their home turf.

But Los Angeles has not fared nearly as well on the road in recent months,
failing to pick up a single point from its last four games away from the
StubHub Center, though the Galaxy did earn a 1-0 win over Chivas USA on June
23 as the designated road team.

The Galaxy's discouraging road form could take another hit given the fast-
paced style of play that the Timbers has been known to feature at Jeld-Wen,
but Robbie Rogers believes that his side will be prepared to match Portland's
energy.

"You have to match the same amount of energy because they're going to pressure
us like crazy, so you have to do the same back to them," Rogers told the
club's official website. "That's my opinion, so we'll see what the coaches
decide, but I think you need to match that energy."

Todd Dunivant echoed Rogers' sentiments, drawing upon a thrilling 5-3 Galaxy
victory at Jeld-Wen last season as evidence to support the club's need to play
with vigor.

"We know in their building that they like to high press. There's a lot of
energy with the crowd, it's a smaller field, it's on turf, so things happen
really quickly there," the Galaxy defender told the club's official website.
"There are a lot of factors that we have to be ready for. Last year, we
handled it very well and got a good win, but the year before, it was the
complete opposite. We have to be ready, no doubt about it."